BANANA SPICE LOAF by NancyC
Makes one 8 x 4″ loaf

3/4 cup ripe, mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
2/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (see below)
Cinnamon Sugar (see below)
Walnuts, for garnish, 1/3 to 1/2 cup, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease and flour an 8 x 4″ loaf pan; set aside.

Mash bananas in a small bowl and set aside.

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition.

In medium-size bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Add this mixture to the egg/butter mixture and mix well. Then add the sour cream, mashed bananas, and vanilla, and stir everything just enough to blend (don’t overmix!).

Put batter into your greased and floured loaf pan and bake at 350˚F for 45-48 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing; then remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

While loaf is cooling, make your glaze and cinnamon sugar:
GLAZE:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons Half & Half (light cream)

In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and Half & Half together until smooth and well-blended.

CINNAMON SUGAR:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

In small container with lid, blend sugar and cinnamon together. You’ll have a lot left over, so you can store the unused cinnamon sugar in your container for future use.

WALNUTS FOR GARNISH
You’ll also need 1/3 to 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts to top off the glaze.

When loaf is completely cool, spoon the glaze over the top, letting it run down the sides. Immediately sprinkle with 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon cinnamon sugar and then sprinkle on the coarsely-chopped walnuts last. Let glaze set before slicing.

Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com